Brad Keselowski's bid to buy RFK Racing was rejected, closing the door on one part of the team's ownership discussion while leaving his immediate place in the organization unchanged for now.
Keselowski is still expected to remain with RFK Racing through 2026, but the long-term picture is more complicated. RFK Racing wanted him to move further into management, while he has made it clear he intends to keep driving. At the end of the season, he will depart RFK Racing, and after 2026 he is currently searching for a new ride for 2027.
The ownership story comes after a run of real progress on the track. Between 2018 and 2021, RFK Racing went without a single win. Since Keselowski joined the team in a driver-owner role, RFK Racing has won seven NASCAR Cup Series races. That turnaround is part of why the team remains such a significant part of the current NASCAR Cup Series conversation, even with the ownership bid now off the table.
What Keselowski's move says about RFK Racing
The rejected bid also adds another layer to a broader discussion around how RFK Racing is run. The source notes criticism from anonymous employees about workplace culture and dress code, and that theme drew public reaction from Denny Hamlin and Earnhardt. Keselowski's response to the hoodie criticism was straightforward: “Didn’t know so many people loved hoodies,” he said.
Hamlin said Keselowski has “a specific vision” for his race team and compared that to his own approach, explaining that his side encouraged employees to dress casually. He also said there are different ways to manage a race shop and that the key is having employees who buy into the vision. Earnhardt, meanwhile, said, “What Brad was trying to accomplish, he accomplished,” adding that the shop had been cleaned up and improved so workers would feel more pride when they walked in.
That perspective matters because it frames Keselowski's impact at RFK Racing as more than just wins and losses. Before Brad, things “weren’t good,” Earnhardt said, noting that the team “ran 35th” not long ago. The bid may have been rejected, but the broader debate around Keselowski's role, his leadership style and his future in NASCAR is still very much alive.
